Author: The Free Stater

The financially embattled Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality has a new mayor following the resounding victory of ANC candidate Mxolisi Siyonzana over the DA’s Hardie Viviers on Monday. Newly appointed speaker Mapaseka Nkoane announced the result of the mayoral race at a full council meeting. Nkoane revealed that Siyonzana received 57 votes while Viviers only managed to garner 25 votes. There were five spoilt votes. After the results were announced, ANC councillors broke out in song, calling for unity in their ranks. Siyonzana resigned as speaker of the metro last week after the ANC Free State interim committee announced him as the…

Staff Reporter Three former employees of the Free State Department of Human Settlements and their accomplices have appeared in the Bloemfontein Regional Court facing charges of fraud, corruption and theft involving R7.9 million. Ketlhwoecoeng Mildred Setlaba, 45, Motebang Frank Mokoena, 45, Sarah Bantikile Saila, 63, Muso David Makae, 62, Meshack Modise Tlokotsi, 54, and Thato Goodwill Sempe, 50, made their first court appearance on Thursday after they were arrested by the Hawks earlier the same day. The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation in Bloemfontein was assisted by the Serious Economic Offences Unit in Pretoria to effect the arrests. It is alleged…

I know that I have said this before but now is the right time for trustees to look around the complex to check on problem trees and climbers. This year we have had serious problems that have resulted in tree roots going through the walls and under the floors of adjacent units, causing serious damage. When the roots were dug out it was frightening to see the amount of damage caused. Trustees and managing agents need to do a full inspection of their buildings to look out for any potential problems. This year, especially with the excess rain, trees have…

Staff Reporter Classes ended abruptly at Grey College this afternoon after 60 new cases of COVID-19 were reported at the upmarket Bloemfontein school. The principal of the school and his deputy are among those who have tested positive for the acute respiratory disease. Education MEC Tate Makgoe confirmed the closing of the school on Twitter saying 53 learners and seven teachers had tested positive for COVID-19. “We have suspended classes at Grey College Secondary after 53 learners and seven teachers including the principal and his deputy tested positive for COVID 19,” said Makgoe in a brief announcement. A statement issued…

Staff Reporter New variants of severe acute respiratory Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have the potential to influence the size and duration of waves of infection and may prolong the existence of COVID-19, an expert has said. Professor Felicity Burt from the University of the Free State (UFS) and the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) says despite the development of vaccines and the technology available to adapt vaccines in the future to address the emergence of new variants, it is extremely unlikely that COVID-19 will ever be eradicated. According to Burt, the emergence of new variants has illustrated the importance of continually…

Staff Reporter The Bloemfontein Regional Court has sentenced a 21-year-old after-school study centre tutor to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping a nine-year-old boy. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said in a statement the court sentenced Mothusi Matladi for rape and sexual assault that happened on November 13, 2019 at the centre. He said Matladi pleaded not guilty to rape and guilty to a charge of sexual assault. “In his plea to a charge of sexual assault, he admitted that he had given the complainant a so-called ‘wedgie’, in that he pulled upwards the…

Staff Reporter Another body has been retrieved to bring to three the number of people who died after their car plunged off a bridge into Vaal Dam in the Free State this week. The accident happened on Monday at Prinsloo Magrietta Bridge in the small town of Oranjeville in the northern part of the province. Police divers attending the scene on Tuesday managed to retrieve two lifeless bodies that have since been identified as those of Lucky Hlapo, 20, and Thugela Mnguni, 34. On Thursday, the body of a third victim, identified as 42-year-old Lefunyana Tsotetsi, was found trapped in…

Staff Reporter Mangaung Metro Municipality speaker Mxolisi Siyonzana has been nominated to take over as the new executive mayor of the city. The Free State capital has not had a substantive mayor since Olly Mlamleli was ousted in a no-confidence vote in August last year. Siyonzana could assume the reins as early as Friday if elected at a scheduled special council meeting. ANC Free State Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) coordinator Paseka Nompondo told a media briefing the party has completed the process of selecting a candidate for the post. “It was an intensive selection process which involved the officials of…

Staff Reporter Two people were confirmed dead after their car plunged off a bridge into Vaal Dam in the Free State this week. The accident occurred at Prinsloo Magrietta Bridge in the small town of Oranjeville in the northern part of the province. According to the police, a motor vehicle reportedly crashed into the steel barriers of the bridge and fell into the water. Police divers who attended the scene managed to retrieve two lifeless bodies that have since been identified as those of Lucky Hlapo, 20, and Thugela Mnguni, 34. The divers were on Wednesday still searching for a…

Staff Reporter Suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has blasted the state for not being “truthful” about its readiness to proceed with the asbestos corruption case as well as a key witness in the matter. Speaking to journalists outside the Free State High Court on Wednesday following the postponement of a pre-trial conference for the asbestos case to October 19, Magashule said the state was fumbling because it did not have a strong case against him and that the charges are politically engineered. “The NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) and law enforcement said they were ready in February,” said Magashule soon after…